Charlotte Davison, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court today (Tuesday, November 22): “Information was passed to Essex Police in November 2015 and a warrant was executed on January 15 this year. A number of devices were seized and images were found on a computer and a USB stick.

“Search terms such as ‘jail bait schoolgirl, jail bait gallery and animal sex housewife’ were found and links to torture, abuse, drunk, drugged and forced,’ with images involving children aged six months to 15 years.”

Tom Quinn, mitigating, said: “He’s at a low risk of re-offending. He lives a very socially isolated existence.

“He had a family but his daughters have stopped contacting him. He is now cut off from them.

“These are serious offences with images which are quite scary and extreme. He’s deeply ashamed for his behaviour.”

The judge referred to Ward having children of his own who have left home and are starting their own families.

He continued: “You have been viewing these for the best part of a year particularly 210 category A images involving children as young as six months. You well understand the physical and enormous psychological effect on them.”

However, the numbers of images were “not as high as courts see” and Ward was of previous good character, said the judge.

As well as 210 category A still images, there were 251 category B, 913 category C and 29 movie images and 27 “extreme” still images and 19 movie images.

Ward was given a 16-month jail term, suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 30 days’ rehabilitation, comply with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years. He must also pay £520 costs.